Just Eighty Percent

I’m sure you’re familiar with the Pareto Principle, most popularly known as the 80/20 rule.

This rule is widely used to help people understand that most things in life are not equally distributed so that they can better focus their efforts.

So, if I have 100 units of effort to give, on average, I would be better off if I allocated those units to the 20% that will impact the 80%.

Those that have the strongest understanding of this principle are typically the most efficient people, in any industry.

But the conversation typically stops there. We commit to going all in on the 20% and never look back.

We assume our success will be perpetually proportional to our focused efforts. Let’s call this an “Intensity Bias”.

Which explains why more and more people are exhausted and feeling frustratingly ineffective despite being exponentially more efficient with their effort.

This “intensity bias” dilemma can be best understood considering our efforts both in the moment and over time.

The best in the world, regardless of industry, are rarely operating at 100% of their capacity. 

Especially when performing!!

At first read this may seem a little controversial, but when you stop to consider why that would be the case it becomes pretty obvious. 

In the moment, operating at 100% capacity can compromise quality.

Over time, operating at 100% capacity will compromise sustainability.

With that, I’m proposing that eighty percent effort may just be the secret to reaching our full potential.

Wait, what?! “Did this guy just try to tell me that I should be giving 80% effort?!”

I did, and I realize that statement is blasphemous to all my 110 percenters out there. 

But consider this for a moment. 

In the physical domain. 80% of a 1 rep max is often the most effective dosage for stimulating adaptive (healing) responses from connective tissues like tendons. 

Give too little effort and there will likely be minimal to no benefits.

Give too much effort and there is increased risk of doing more harm than good.

I have to imagine that our mental, spiritual, and emotional domains respond similarly.

Consider what eighty percent would mean for you? 

Maybe this is the permission you need to modify your intensity to a level that will not only sustain your growth but also promote healing.

Commit to eighty percent effort focused towards the twenty percent of the work you believe will have the most impact and don’t be surprised when you find yourself flourishing beyond your wildest dreams.